i don't usually put mine in water at all. i just plop mine down in the dirt next to the "mother" plant and it will take off. that way, i am watering it the same, and it is getting the same amount of light.

Thanks Will!
That makes a lot of sense... it's getting water from too much 'surface area'.... I'll trim the stem!

Thank you
Kath

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

Hi Kathy,

Evidently, you have propagated your Dracaena stem cuttings by putting sections of them on top of moist soil. In that case, there is no right side up and you neededn't wory about bud locations. Clearly you have been successful in getting new shoots.

Are there any roots that have grown down into the moist soil? If so, be careful not to damage them.

Yes, you can cut off the excess stem. Transplant your cuttings into very small pots until their roots have developed fully.

Hi Kath,

It's great to share your enthusiasm! You have done a great job so far.

If your stem cuttings have roots about an inch long, then you can gradually start opening up and removing the plastic tent over the course of about a week. When the roots are sufficiently mature they are able to absorb and supply the plant with moisture that it requires, making the tent unnecessary.

I discourage unnecessary or premature repotting. Potting up is a lot like getting bigger shoes for kids. It may be a nuisance, but you up-pot only when the roots have really filled the pot with a tight rootball. And then you move the plant up one size only. The timing depends on just how crowded the roots are. My rule of thumb is that the pot should be large enough to keep the soil moist for at least three days. If not, then it is time to up-pot. Otherwise, resist the urge to repot.

Do you have any photos to share with us?

Hi Kath,

Great photo posting job and even better horticultural work! That is an excellent example of a propagating technique that is not often used. I hope it will encourage others to try it with long stems that they have removed from their Dracaenas. You are now the Designated Expert in Dracaena propagation.

Before you cut off any of the stems to make them smaller, check to see if the stems have put down roots all along the stem.

Thanks for taking the trouble to get the photos posted for all to see.

Kath-pdx,
This one??????????????
Help me with my African Violets!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Anytime!!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Hi Kath,

I was unaware that it is possible to propagate using your technique. Thank you for posting photos; a picture truly is worth 1000 words!

Cricket

Phoenix - Nice NICE dracaena! My 'mom plant' is in a pot about the same size, now I just need to get it better light during the winter so it doesn't again grow parallel to the ground! I'm hoping for it to look as good as yours!

Cricket - glad you liked the photos. I realized I'd forgotten to include the "tented" version... The pot I have the canes laying in happens to be perfect for a zip lock baggie to fit snuggly over:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/kathpdx/TentedDracaena.jpg

Also the 'soil' I have them in/on is 1/2 peat & 1/2 sand. I read that recipe somewhere and it seems to have worked!

Oh, Will - I just checked for roots: I don't see any except on one cane - and its at the far oposite end to the new sprout. I assume I should just leave them be in the tent/on the moist soil until ... until I see more? And .. what if I halved the 4" canes now.. would I risk the baby plants?
I guess one option I have is to, when they're ready, put the whole 4" in a new pot. That will just be a bigger first pot than I'd planned. Whatcha think?

Kath

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

Thanks Kath,
It didn't always look so good. I rescued it from one of the cell phone stores i worked at. When i brought it home it was in pretty rough shape. No body was taking care of it. The poor thing had not been watered properly and there was hardly any soil in the pot. Once it established it's self to my house i repotted it and it grew like mad.

* * * *


http://photobucket.com/albums/y203/lilpuppolo/
"If you want to talk bollocks and discuss the meaning of life,you're better off downing a bottle of whiskey.That way you're drunk by the time you start to take yourself seriously"

quote:

---

Originally posted by phoenix:
[QUOTE]I think I would go this route though You can always trust Mr. Creed

---

So I am discovering. Can someone make sure his contract here is air tight??

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

quote:

---

Originally posted by Will Creed:

You could also leave it as is and perhaps you will get more foliage heads to develop midway along the stem.

---

The more I think about it I think I'm going to take his Other advice! (Nice of Will to offer choices!)

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

Hi there

I am very new to plants and growing techniques. Someone I know with a Dracaena plant has told me to pot it when it has grown roots... it is now just over a year old and still has no roots. Originally the instructions were to keep in in a small pot with water. When do I pot it???

Also, some of its leaves have turned brown but most are still green, do I just take these dead leaves off for regrowth? Or leave them?

I hope someone can help me...

Thanks,

Jo

Hi Jo,

Your post suggests you have a dracaena cutting that you have been trying to root in water for a year now. Is that correct? I don't know much about rooting dracaenas but it seems that a year is excessively lengthy for roots to develop.

Do you know what kind of dracaena it is?

Cricket

Hi again

Thanks for your help so far, I think it is a Dracaena fragrans Massangeana. Does that make sense? It has gained lots of leaves but the main trunk has not grown (i dont know if its meant to) and there are no roots after a year.

Thanks again,

Jo

Great, thanks very much for your help! I have some hope now that it will still grow roots. Yes, it has been in water the whole year without root development. Ill see what happens to it.

Thanks again for all your help.

Jo

Kath,
Just have to pop in here,
been following the thread,
you did very nice work!!!
All three look great and healthy!!!

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Let me ask a question about etiquette here. I want to keep showing the progress of the various offspring of this propagation effort. (I'm very excited how all the forms are taking off!) Should I start a new thread, or is it okay to keep adding it on here?
If I was new here and (important point) interested in the topic, I guess I would like seeing the thread intact. However, maybe I'm just in my own private little excited-about-my-dracaenas world!
(I have new pictures, but I'm going to wait for the community to let me know how to behave!! )

Kath

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

For me, I like to have a continual thread,
so, any one looking for info can find it in
one post... but, also if you start a second thread
to link this post with the first post, so any
one new coming along can also follow your
awesome job and pictures..
(and I can imagine the excitement of getting
them growing...plants have a way of doing that to you)

So, you pick!!!
Continue on this one, or start a whole new one,
and link it here to this one..
*pm if you don't know how or I will link it for you*

* * * *
Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Okay, then.. here are the promised results (so far)!

These photos are the resulting three (of soon to be 4) now-potted plants that have come from the stem cuttings and top of my originally too-horizontal dracaena stock.

I think I'm delighted with the way this 'top' looks, it should be a very interesing plant, don't ya think?!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/kathpdx/PICT0004_1.jpg
I'll be keeping it aiming toward (and working for) the light to bring it back toward & over the pot.

And the stem cuttings -
here they are just freshly potted, temporarily tented, and completely horizontal:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/kathpdx/Justpotted.jpg

And HERE they are, just a few days later... straightening right up!!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/kathpdx/8-21DracBabies.jpg

I have one more section of log/stem that has sprouted and it will probably be ready to be planted in a week or two.

This is AMAZING! I never would have guessed that propagation could be so fun & easy!! (Not to mention.. sooooo satisfying!)

* * * *
Never accept an invitation from a stranger unless he offers you candy.--Linda Festa

Hi Kath...,

For a 5-month old, you take excellent photos!

Your previously posted photos are excellent examples of your propagation technique and success. They also demonstrate the power of photo-tropism or the power of light (the sun) to influence the direction of growth. Actually, I liked the little guys when they were in plastic and confronting each other head-on.

In your recent photos, we see Mother Nature following her perfectly logical course. When plants are moved to better conditions (in this case better light outside), the NEW growth comes in much stronger and thicker. However, the OLD growth is already established and remains weaker and thinner. So the top of your Marginata is now too heavy for the lower, thinner stem to maintain in an upright position. That's why it is leaning.

If you let Nature follow her course, the stem will bend way down to the horizontal or below and then the top will continue to orient itself upward. The result will be an interesting, undulating stem. Some growers manipulate this process deliberately in order to create interesting curves in Marginata stems. They are then able to sell them at premium prices.

If you prefer the vertical look, then the solution is to cut back the stem in question to a height of 12 inches or less. That will eliminate most of the lower (weaker) stem. The new growth after that (assuming you can continue to provide good light) will be stronger and thicker and better able to maintain a vertical position. Of course, the problem is that you will soon have to move it back inside where the light is reduced. Now if you were to add a greenhouse to your house, then this wouldn't matter!

I hope I haven't made this too complicated or exceeded the space limits, but you seem to have an inquisitive mind to go along with your green thumb and photography skills!

Let me know if you need clarity.

A SUN ROOM! What a Great Idea!
How funny you should mention.. I am really trying to work on that right now!! But at the rate my lender is responding I don't know if I'll get it before NEXT spring! Guess I'll have to conduct surgery again, cuz my home light is awwwweful!

A sunroom is a terrific idea for your plants , if not for your bank account. Be sure to post photos.

What is Fertilome? What are the active ingredients?

Despite the "Triple Action" hyperbole, Fertilome is a weak pesticide that is probably no more effective then non-pesticide treatments such as soap, alcohol, and horticultural oil. (BTW, RTU is not a secret ingredient; it is code language for Ready-To-Use).

As pesticides go, this one is relatively safe, assuming you follow the precautions listed in very fine print.

I don't recommend using broad spectrum pesticides. Use a pesticide that is designated for the specific pest that you are trying to control. Why add more fungicide to the environment if you are just trying to control spider mites?

I have written an article on safe and effective treatment of the most common indoor plant pests.

I will e-mail the article to anyone who sends a request to me at wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com